Have You Ever Wanted to Pet a Zebra?

When I was younger, traveling with my family along I-15 between Provo and St. George, was torture.  Small towns were merely passing blurs on our way to St. George, Las Vegas, and Disneyland.  We might occasionally have stopped in Nephi to grab some lunch and top off the gas tank before heading back out on the road.  But after that, it was hours of boredom.

Yet, if you know where to go, there are some interesting stops to make along the way.  It's these stops along the way that make adventures about more than just the destination.  And more fun.

Whether you're traveling north or south on I-15, you should make a stop in Scipio (about an hour south of Provo and an hour north of Beaver), at the Flying J Travel Center where there is a unique petting zoo.

This free petting zoo has the typical petting zoo type animals- goats, sheep, chickens and rabbits.  The kids will have fun with these friendly farm animals who have mostly gotten used to being touched, hugged, and fed by excited children.

But, a petting zoo with just your normal farm animals wouldn't be enough to get most people to pull over at what has been for years a stop for semi-trucks.

There are also zebras, ostriches, alpacas, miniature horses, and more.  The more exotic animals are kept behind fences, unlike the smaller animals that are allowed to roam around the enclosures with the visitors.  Yet, they will come right over when tempted with some hay or food pellets (purchased for a quarter at machines around the corrals.

Watch your fingers and hands though.  The zebras are mostly friendly, but will occasionally take a nip at you.  And the ostrich can get a little aggressive, swinging its large head and pecking a at unsuspecting people.

When you're done at the zoo, walk across the street to the Flying J to the clean, but busy, Burger King and pick up a soft serve ice cream cone to enjoy while you continue on down the road to the next part of your adventures.


Going north or south on I-15, take Exit 188 at Scipio and go to the west side of the freeway to the Flying J Travel Center.

Memorial Day- The Official, Unofficial Start of Summer

It's Memorial Day.

Swimming pools are opening.  Grills are sizzling.  The kids are nearly out of school.

And the call of summer can almost be heard already, "I'm sooooo bored!"

At Things To Do, Utah, we're here to help you find interesting places to go and fun activities throughout Utah that won't break the bank.

To kick off Summer 2014, here are 10 of our favorite places to go, in no particular order:

1. Wild West Jordan Playground.  West Jordan, Utah- This playground, themed around an 1880's Utah main street, has climbing walls, a multi-story playhouse made to look like the old Saltair, and of course, plenty of playground equipment.  Part of the expansive West Jordan City Park, the playground is a great place to spend a warm summer afternoon.
2. Hogle Zoo.  Salt Lake City, Utah- Hogle Zoo has been undergoing a major transformation over the last few years.  Asian Highlands, Rocky Shores, and Elephant Encounters are being joined this year by African Savanna, complete with 4 new lions.
3. Hill Aerospace Museum.  Hill Air Force Base, (near Roy) Utah- The history of aviation and the U.S. Air Force unfolds in massive fashion at this high flying museum.  From World War I to the Cold War and today's military fighter jets, this museum is just plain cool.  Don't miss the SR-71 Blackbird, a huge and amazing looking plane that set speed flight records before being retired.
4. Antelope Island.  Accessible by causeway, west of Layton, Utah- This, the largest island in the Great Salt Lake, has a museum about the wildlife on the island, the Garr-Fielding Ranch, a sandy beach, and plenty of hiking trails.
5. Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum.  BYU, Provo Utah- Reopening on June 7, this life sciences museum was already a fascinating place to spend an afternoon.  New, improved and expanded, it should prove to be even more fun.  Head to their website for information on Family Nights and live animal shows.
6. Springville Museum of Art.  Springville, Utah- This gem of an art museum is one that a lot of people who've lived in Utah all their lives either don't know about or have never visited.  Take a day and explore this museum, housed in a building in Spanish Moroccan style architecture.  Don't forget the sculpture gardens.
7. USU Eastern Prehistoric Museum.  Price, Utah- This great museum splits its exhibits between paleontology and anthropology.  See a great collection of dinosaur bones, dinosaur eggs, and dinosaur footprints.  Take a picture with Utah's very own, Utahraptor.  Then, move over to the other side of the museum and learn about the people that first inhabited Utah.
8. Bridal Veil Falls.  Provo Canyon, Utah- Bridal Veil Falls is a beautiful, double horsetail cascade that tumbles from 600 feet from the canyon bottom.  At the base of the falls is a small wading pool, shady picnic areas, and paved walking/biking trails that run down the canyon.
9. Novell Children's Discovery Park.  Pleasant Grove, Utah- This is a playground that's been built around teaching kids science while playing.  Check out the different zones and explore music, dinosaurs, sound, and light.  When you're tired, sit down and play chess at one of the nearby tables.
10. We're leaving this to YOU to tell us where in Utah is your favorite place to go.  Just leave a comment below and we'll share it with all our readers.

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter, where we post fun weekly events and other things to do.  And be sure to watch for some special things coming this summer that will help you find even more things to do.

Reciprocal Agreements Can Save You Money...

There are a number of Utah attractions where you can buy season/yearly passes- Lagoon, Hogle Zoo, Tracy Aviary, etc.

But, what many fail to realize is that when you purchase these season/yearly passes, is that there are often other benefits to these purchases known as reciprocal agreements. These agreements get you into other attractions for free, for free on certain days, or give you a discount off the regular admission price.

But, not all reciprocal agreements are crafted equally, or, one yearly pass may offer you access to attractions that you would use more than those offered with another pass' agreements. When buying season/yearly passes, take these different factors into account:

1) What season/yearly pass will you use the most? For example: if you buy a yearly pass to Hogle Zoo, will you use it enough to make it pay for itself PLUS save you money on additional visits? Are you more likely to visit Hogle Zoo, Tracy Aviary, or Ogden Eccles Dinosaur Park, etc.?

2) What reciprocal agreements does that yearly pass have? Does it offer enough value to make it worth buying that particular pass or should you consider a different season/yearly pass that gives you access to other attractions that might be of more interest to your family?

3) Do the reciprocal agreements offer free admissions to other attractions, discount admissions, or a combination of both, and which of these would you use most often?

4) Some reciprocal agreements offer free admission on certain days of the month (usually weekdays). Can you make the time to take advantage of these reciprocal agreements?

5) If you live in Logan, for example, would buying a yearly pass to Thanksgiving Point in Lehi be worth the time you would need to make to travel? In this case, buying a pass to the Willow Park Zoo may be a better value and still give you opportunities to visit other attractions for free or discounted rates. Consider the distance that you would need to travel in order to take advantage of passes and reciprocal agreements.

Here is a list of some of the attractions in the state that offer season/yearly passes that also come with reciprocal agreements. While I try to list as many as I can, this is not intended to be a comprehensive list, nor does this list guarantee that all the reciprocal agreements will be honored, as they can be changed by participating parties at any time.

Hogle Zoo- Tracy Aviary (50% off admission every Thursday); Willow Park Zoo (50% off admission Nov. 1 thru Feb. 28); there are also reciprocity agreements with other zoos and attractions in many other states, usually a 50% off admission.

Tracy Aviary- Hogle Zoo (50% off admission every Thursday); Willow Park Zoo (free admission); Thanksgiving Point Farm (free admission on 1st Thursday of every month); Red Butte Garden (free admission); Ogden Nature Center (free admission 1st Thursday of every month); Living Planet Aquarium (50% off admission); Ogden Eccles Dinosaur Park (free admission on weekdays only, excluding holidays and special events); there are also reciprocity agreements with other zoos and attractions in many other states, either free or discounted admission.

Willow Park Zoo- Hogle Z00 (free or discounted admission. Willow Park Zoo's website is not clear on the reciprocity policy); Tracy Aviary (free or discounted admission. Willow Park Zoo's website is not clear on the reciprocity policy); there are also reciprocity agreements with other zoos and attractions in many other states, either free or discounted admission. Call Willow Park Zoo to inquire about reciprocity agreements.

Ogden Eccles Dinosaur Park- Tracy Aviary (free admission on weekdays); Ogden Nature Center (free admission on weekdays); Ogden Union Station (50% discount on daily admission).

Red Butte Garden- Tracy Aviary (free admission); there are also reciprocity agreements with other gardens and attractions in many other states, either free or discounted admission.

Odgen Union Station (three museums included in pass- Utah State Railroad Museum, John M. Browning Firearm Museum, and the Browning-Kimball Classic Car Museum)- Ogden Nature Center (free admission); Ogden Eccles Dinosaur Park (free weekday admission, excluding holidays and special events).

Getting season/yearly passes is both a great way to explore and save money.

Hogle Zoo in a Whole New (Christmas) Light

No, you're not seeing things. We're back. Its been a number of months since we've posted to the Things To Do, Utah blog. Although I didn't think that many people were reading our blog, the numbers, even though small, continued day after day over the past months. So, we're back and ready to share more about Things To Do, Utah.

'Tis the season, for Christmas lights!

There are a lot of displays out there, some for free, some will cost a little to get into, but most are worth it for a family night out (or even for the parents to get away).

Those of you who've read the blog in the past know that Hogle Zoo is one of our favorite places. Well, a new tradition, Zoo Lights are back again this year and bigger and better than ever. With over one million lights and animated animal displays made of lights, this is one fantastic place to be. It may get chilly at night, but the zoo has provided areas to warm up under heaters. And of course, don't forget the real animals.

Zoo Lights is an extra feature at the zoo, so your membership doesn't get you in for free, but you do get a discount with your membership. If you don't have a membership, the cost is $6.00 for adults, and $4.00 for seniors and children. With membership, admission is $5.00 for adults, and $3.00 for seniors and children.

But here is an even better way to see the lights and save a little money. Head down to Macey's Grocery Stores and pick up a Zoo Lights voucher from the customer service desk. The voucher will get you into Zoo Lights on Thursday evenings for only $3.00 per person (zoo membership or not).

So, kick off your Christmas season with Zoo Lights at Hogle Zoo!

Event: Zoo Lights at Hogle Zoo.
Location: 2600 Sunnyside Avenue, Salt Lake City, Utah
Phone: 801-582-1631
Date and Times: November 29 to December 31st, 2009; Sunday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (grounds close at 9 p.m.), Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (grounds close at 10 p.m.).
Cost: Without zoo membership, $6.00 for adults and $4.00 for children and seniors; With zoo membership, $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children and seniors; With Thursday night vouchers from Macey's, $3.00 per person.


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Distance from:
Salt Lake City (downtown): 4.8 miles
Ogden: 41.3 miles
Provo: 48 miles
Logan: 86.8 miles

Little Known Zoo In Northern Utah

Until just a few years ago, when I took my daughters on one of our "adventure days," I hadn't realized that Logan, Utah had a zoo. At 15 acres (including the surrounding park), it is quite a bit smaller than Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, but it doesn't make the Willow Park Zoo any less appealing. In fact, Willow Park Zoo, in the times that I have been there, has been far less crowded and far more serene than Hogle Zoo. It doesn't have the "big ticket" animals such as elephants, lions and giraffes, but my children found the zoo exciting in a whole different way- it seemed a much more personal, up close experience with the animals.

Located in Willow Park, adjacent to the Cache County Fairgrounds, the zoo was opened in 1971. It is both easy to find and get to. The selection of animals for a small zoo is impressive. They have 11 mammal species, over 100 bird species from around the world, and a good selection of reptiles and fish. One of my children's favorites was the turtle exhibit. I liked seeing both the bald eagle and the bull elk.

For what you get to experience in this relaxing environment, the entrance fee ($2.00 for adults and $1.00 for children 12 and under) is well worth it. If you have a membership to Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City, there is a reciprocal agreement that gets you into Willow Park Zoo for free.

Make a day of going to Willow Park Zoo, pack a lunch, wander a bit, and play in the beautiful park. Later on, you could even head up the street to the Utah State University Campus and buy some "Aggie" ice cream for everyone. The Willow Park Zoo was probably one of the more relaxing of all the "adventure days" we went on.

Place: Willow Park Zoo
Location: 419 West 700 South, Logan, UT
Phone: 435.716.9265
Hours: 9 a.m. to Sunset, Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day
Cost: $ (Adults- $2.00, Children 12 and under- $1.00)


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Distance From:
Salt Lake City: 81.7 miles
Ogden: 47 miles
Provo: 123 miles
Logan (downtown): 1.8 miles

Hogle Zoo- How to go multiple times, cheaply

One of our family's favorite places to go, probably because there is something for everyone regardless of age, is the Hogle Zoo. There are currently over 1,100 animals, representing more than 250 species housed at the zoo, including elephants, giraffes, gorillas and tigers.

Situated on roughly 42 acres at the mouth of Emigration Canyon, it may not be one of the largest zoos in the United States, but it is one of the prettiest. The animal exhibits are located on rolling hills and winding paths among trees that are a century old. Emigration Creek runs through the middle of the zoo.

I remember as a child going to Hogle Zoo with my parents. Amazing as the zoo was then for a child, it's only gotten better with time. The new renovated elephant habitat, "Elephant Encounters" lets visitors see four different outdoor habitats for these great mammals. Some viewing area are up above the elephants and some are at eye (or maybe, knee) level.

One of my favorite places in the zoo (and my children's favorite as well) is to see the big cats. Lions and tigers and Siberian Lynx, oh my! The new Asian Highlands exhibit puts you into the setting of an Asian mountain village, and all around you are some of the most amazing predators you'll ever see up close. There are all sorts of interactive displays (touch-screen televisions) and guides to help you learn all about the felines.

Don't forget the giraffes, alligators, monkeys and birds- and this is just the start. Every time you go, it's a new adventure. Take the train ride on the small gauge train (for $1.00 per person, 1 and under is free), get interactive in Discovery Land (free with paid entrance), or take in one of the most popular attractions at the zoo, the "World of Flight Birdshow" (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm, free with paid entrance). Get there early for the bird show; even in the new, large Wildlife Theater, seating is limited and the show is almost always full.

Admission is: $8.00 for adults, $6.00 for children (ages 3-12), age 2 and under is free.
Here's how to save money: One visit for a family of four (all children 3 or older) can range from $28 to $32. More if you have more children (with my family, one visit will cost us, $50). Buy a yearly membership. Family membership for two parents and all their children 18 and younger- $65 for a year. Since the zoo is open year round, make a few visits and get your money's worth.

With a membership, you get discount on the train ride ($0.75 instead of $1.00) as well as discounts on food and souvenirs. It also includes a reciprocity program that will get you into other zoos around the country for free or at reduced cost. One of the places you can go with you Hogle Zoo membership is the Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City. You get into the aviary for FREE on the first Thursday of each month with your Hogle Zoo membership.

You can rent strollers and wagons: $6.00 to $8.00 each- but, why? Bring one of your own.

If you are going to spend the day, pack a lunch- it's by far cheaper than eating out or eating from the concession stands at the zoo.

Hit the zoo and have a wild time.

Place: Hogle Zoo
Location: 2600 Sunnyside Avenue, Salt Lake City, Utah
Hours: Open 365 days a year (except Christmas and New Year's Day). Hours vary by season.
Cost: $$$


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Distance from:
Salt Lake City (downtown): 5.0 Miles
Ogden: 42.5 Miles
Provo: 48.6 Miles
Logan: 86.8 Miles